Broody Chickens R they worth it?

[catterbug]

We have been thinking about adding a few chicks to our flock. Are chickens that are known to go broody worth it? I haven't experienced a broody chicken before. I only have 2 that are known for broodiness and 2 that are "infrequently" broody and the other 4 aren't supposed to be broody at all. I just wanted some opinions because I had a friend that had a broody girl this past summer and it was very difficult to break her.

 

[abhaya]

Are you looking for a hen to hatch and raise chicks? If so yes a good broody is worth her wieght in ummmmmm eggs!! If you are looking for a hen to lay lots of eggs you really dont want a broody hen.

 

[txcarl1258]

If you do not want your girls to ever go broody and hatch any chicks then no they are not worth it. With some broodies you will drive yourself insane trying to break them and not to mention the lost egg production. To others a good broody is worth her weight in gold! I would much rather have reliable broody hens who will take whatever eggs I will give them and let them raise the chicks on their own. Much easier than trying to brood them in the house. So in a nut shell it all depends on what YOUR needs are if you can and want the hens to hatch the eggs.

 

[Pinky]

It's difficult to stop most of the time but it is possible to break them. Whether they are worth it is depends on if you want to let them hatch their own chicks.

The ones that go broody often are usually good mothers

 

[kathy in cuero]

I know your post was this last April, but I was curious if you decided to have broody hens...I have a broody half Silky/Araucana and she has been sitting/setting for three months without any babies. It has been her bad luck that the eggs weren't fertile, as my other hens have had chicks with no problems. I have not decided what to do....take her off the nest or let her set.

 

[abhaya]

Quote:
Swap out the eggs for fertile ones!!

 

[calicokat]

Or better yet, swap the eggs for day old chicks that you buy somewhere, time for her to have some babies.

 

[chickensnax]

Yes its worth it. I'm a fairly new chickie owner. Last fall I let my broody Orpington hatch some eggs. It was a neat experience watching her raise her babies. Well late this spring she went broody again, but kept breaking the eggs so I ordered day olds. I know the standard approach for introducing them to the mom is placing them under her at night, but I picked them up from the post office at 6am and couldn;t wait that long. So I tried one at a time introducing them to her. So as I opened my hand and placed he chick near her, she did the funniest thing, her eyes got all big and clucked and tucked the baby right away under her almost like she said "oh there's my baby" and she did that with each one I gave her. She was the best mom, and even tried babing them when they were as big as she was and she had to follow them around instead of them following her. If she goes boody again this spring, I want to get more for her.

Its totally worth it, its great being able to watch the hen teach her babies new things and how to be a chickie, plus its less work for you since she does it all.